Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai on Tuesday said that the promised peaceful polls took place in the province and the chief minister’s office remained unbiased and uncontroversial during this process at a ceremony organised by Punjab University Academic Staff Association at Punjab University (PU).
PU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran, Acting President Dr Faheem Aftab, Secretary Javed Sami and faculty members and students were also present.
Barozai said that hostile powers had threatened to halt the elections but we had successfully continued with them. In some instances, helicopters were used to transport voters to polling stations, and the caretaker government controlled many incidents of violence.
He added that militants were shamelessly using children in terrorist activities by monetary temptation.
He said that Balochistan’s own people damaged their province. During the last government, Members of National Assembly (MNAs) were allotted Rs 250 million in funds annually but the Quetta still suffered from poor infrastructure, and he said that there were “no go areas” in Balochistan only because there were no roads.
He said that they had abundant mineral and human resources but “we prefer personal interest over national interest”. He held that Punjab was acting like a big brother and had made many positive gestures.
According to the caretaker chief minister, ignorant people in the media were presenting a false picture of Balochistan’s problems, adding that its major issue was lack of education and he appealed to the other provinces to accommodate maximum Baloch students in their academic institutions. He explained that Balochis had hospitals but lacked the expertise to run them.
He urged the newly-elected parliamentarians to serve the Baloch people at this critical juncture.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mujahid Kamran congratulated Mr Barozai for holding peaceful elections. He said that the Baloch were brave, loyal and hard working people, willing to sacrifice their lives for their leaders. He said that 97 Baloch students were admitted to Punjab University with no tuition and free boarding facilities and Rs 3,000 monthly scholarship was also awarded to each Baloch student. He praised the Baloch students at PU for being motivated learners.
Dr Faheem Aftab thanked Barozai and PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran for gracing the event. Later, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran presented a portrait and books to the caretaker chief minister.
